Coast Guard rescues man from Detroit River

CLEVELAND — The Coast Guard rescued a man from the Detroit River in the vicinity of the river walk near Coast Guard Sector Detroit late afternoon Monday.

At 4:10 p.m., construction workers notified two Coast Guardsmen standing outside the sector grounds of a person in the water. The Coast Guardsmen relayed the information to a search-and-rescue coordinator in the command center and kept watch on the man in the water. The search-and-rescue coordinator directed the launch of a rescue crew from Coast Guard Station Belle Isle in Detroit.

A rescue boat crew, aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, arrived on scene at 4:28 p.m., and pulled the man from the water. The rescue crew immediately started CPR as they transferred the man to awaiting emergency medical services that were at the sector boat docks.

The man was unresponsive when transfered to EMS, but revived after continued CPR during transport to St. John Hospital in Detroit.

“A quick response and immediate action by the crew helped save this man’s life,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas Chegin, coxswain of the Coast Guard rescue boat. “This is what we train for every day and because of that training we were ready.”

The Coast Guard reminds anyone recreating in and around the water to remain aware of their surroundings and vigilant to hazards at all times. Although the ice is mostly gone, the water temperature remains very cold. The water temperature was 37 degrees Monday night.

As the spring season arrives and more boaters and swimmers make their way out near or on the water, the Coast Guard asks that citizens watch out for each other and call the Coast Guard for help if they can’t safely render assistance.